Into the Fire

Few things can realistically compare to life and death.

Birth is dramatic, often astounding, and God has said children are a blessing—regardless of who they’re born to or under whatever circumstances. Those little babies are a new creation, and the plans for them are good. However, not all who have them are living according to God’s plan and will for their lives, so oftentimes an infant starts with a deficit.

Death on the other hand can also be dramatic and astounding, but add to those sorrowful and tragic. No kind of death is more regrettable than those who die without having yielded their lives to the Savior Jesus Christ. Eternity is a forever state. Being separated from God who encompasses all truth, beauty, love, and perfection ensures a dark and torturous existence in hell.

Many scoff at the requirement of going through Jesus Christ to find heaven. Others insist an afterlife is a fantasy. Still others plan to find a heaven any way they choose.

One thing’s for sure: after birth, there’s death. Sooner or later.

So how will you live? Who will you believe?

Life has some real doozies to throw our way sometimes. Our world is rocked and shaken, and we feel ill-prepared to carry on or make a proper decision. Things we suspected come to pass against all hope and even prayer that they could be avoided, and we are dumbstruck by the event because it feels crippling in ways we can’t even articulate.

How will we rebound from this? We wonder. We pause. We allow the tears and sobs to overtake us because we hurt, we fear, we come to terms with our humanity—our weakness. Where is our faith? Why can’t we pray? What is going to happen?

Eventually we’ll calm down and ask ourselves, “Is this life or death?” Sometimes the answer will in fact be yes. Other times, no. Either way, we are looking to God for assistance, relief, comfort, rescue, and sanctuary. Help! Our heart is thumping, our nerves are tingling, and our psyches are rattled. We need the Savior, the Lord. In the pit of trouble, He is there even when we can’t reach Him with our minds, our hearts know He is there. And somehow, some way, He will provide what we need. Not always what we want.

I’ve lived both ways. Without knowing Jesus and now knowing Jesus. There is no comparison. Life comes with knowing Him and death is constant without Him. Life is too tough to attempt without Him, and dying without Him is damning and filled with eternal horror.

People need the Savior. Life doesn’t exist without Him. It’s only a replica and will not survive death. Jesus offers eternal life, and there’s just no comparison to His offer.

Father, you know what lies ahead. You know what is happening everywhere, all the time. Please, Lord, help us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.